AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

SEMESTER EXAM REVIEW

1. What type of power is the power to collect taxes? concurrent

2. What is a system of government in which the power to govern is shared between the national governmentand the states? Federalism3. What is the power of the Supreme Court to review any law and declare it unconstitutional? Judicial review4. What is the power to hear a case first, before any other court? Original jurisdiction5. Who was the first African American to serve on the United States Supreme Court?Thurgood Marshall6. How long is a term for a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court? Life7. Who was the first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court? John Jay8. Who was the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court? Sandra Day O’ Connor9. Who appoints justices to the United States Supreme Court? The President10. Who confirms those appointments? The Senate11. Which article of the Constitution deals with the Judicial Branch? Article III12. Which of the following is not true of the Vice President?The Vice President is the President of the Senate.The Vice President counts electoral votes.The Vice President is limited to two, four year terms. (ANS)13. Which branch does the President belong to? The Executive Branch14. Who was the first President to die in office? William Henry Harrison15. Who was the first Catholic to be President? John Kennedy16. What are the three qualifications to be President? (One answer per student)born a citizen, at least 35 years old , a resident of the United States for at least 14 years17. What is dividing a state into odd-shaped districts for strictly political reasons? Gerrymandering18. What is talking until a bill’s sponsor withdraws it? Filibuster19. How are bills introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives?They are dropped into the hopper20. How are bills introduced in the U.S. Senate? By announcing them21. Who acts as jury in the impeachment trial of a President? The Senate22. What are permanent committees that specialize in a particular topic? Standing committees23. Who is the official leader of the United States Senate? The Vice President24. What is the “lower house” of the United States Congress? The House of Representatives25. Which article is concerned with the Legislative Branch? Article I26. What is the place where the voters who are living in a voting district actually vote?Polling place27. What is a voting district, the smallest geographic unit for the conduct of elections? Precinct28. What date has Congress set for national elections?The first Tuesday-after-the-first-Monday in November of every even-numbered year29. What is a primary in which only declared party members can vote? Closed30. When an absolute majority is needed to carry a primary, but no one wins a majority in a race, what type ofprimary must be held? runoff31. What type of primary is held when candidates for a local office are not identified by party labels?nonpartisan32. What is a fee demanded by States as a condition of voting? Poll tax33. What are congressional elections that are held in the even-numbered years between presidential elections?Off-year elections34. What is a primary in which any qualified voters can cast ballots? Open35. What is depriving a person or group of voting rights? disenfranchisement36. What is the ability to read and write? Literacy37. Why did many States at one time adopt literacy and poll tax requirements for voting?They were attempting to discourage African Americans from voting38. What is another word that means suffrage or the right to vote? franchise39. What is the potential voting population? (Basically, you are registered to vote) Electorate40. Which amendment provides that no State can set the minimum age for voting at more than 18 years ofage? 26th41. Who was the first President to live in the White House? John Adams42. Why was the South known as the Solid South after Reconstruction?They voted solidly for the Democratic Party43. Who was the only President to unanimously win Electoral College? George Washington44. What is the symbol of the Democratic Party? The donkey45. What is a group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and theholding of public office? Political party46. America’s two-party system started during the debate over what?The ratification of the Constitution47. What are powers that both the National Government and the States possess and exercise?Concurrent48. What are powers given to the National Government that are written in the Constitution?Expressed49. What are powers that the Constitution does not grant to the National Government nor deny to the States?Reserved50. What are powers that can be exercised by the National Government alone? Exclusive51. What is the legal process by which a fugitive from justice in one State is returned to that State?Extradition52. What are powers given to the national government by the Constitution? (A general term)delegated53. The President’s power to veto bills passed by Congress is a reflection of which principle of theConstitution? Checks and balances54. Who has the power to declare war? Congress55. Where did women first have the right to vote in the United States? Wyoming56. Which amendment gave women the right to vote? 19th57. Which President started the tradition of only serving two terms? George Washington58. Which President broke that tradition? Franklin Roosevelt59. Which principle of the Constitution is best expressed through elections? Popular sovereignty60. Which amendment gave African American men the right to vote? 15th61. What are the first ten amendments to the Constitution called? The Bill of Rights62. What is the power of the court to declare a governmental action unconstitutional?Judicial review63. What states the purpose of the Constitution? The Preamble64. Which amendment limited the President to two terms in office? 22nd65. What is the highest authority in the nation? The Constitution66. Which issue did the Three-Fifths Compromise dealt with?How to count slaves in matters of representation and taxation67. Where was the first Presidential Oath of Office given? New York City68. Who was the first person to take the Presidential Oath of Office? George Washington69. Which of the following is false about the New Jersey Plan?It called for equal representation of states in the legislatureIt called for three branches of government (ANS)It was similar to the form of government under the Articles of ConfederationIt favored the smaller states70. What was the original intent of the Constitutional Convention? To revise the Articles of Confederation71. How many states did it take to ratify the U.S. Constitution? 972. Which colony did not send delegates to the Constitutional Convention? Rhode Island73. Which city was the Constitutional Convention was held in? Philadelphia74. Who was the main writer of the Declaration of Independence? Thomas Jefferson75. What was considered our first constitution? The Articles of Confederation76. The Virginia Plan called for all of the following EXCEPT _____a bicameral legislature.a President.a court system.a unicameral legislature. (ANS)77. On December 16, 1773, what secret organization, disguising themselves as Indians, stormed aboard threeBritish ships in Boston Harbor and dumped 342 crates full of tea overboard? The Sons of Liberty78. Which of the following groups was allowed to vote in the colonies?white men who owned a certain amount of land (ANS)slaves who had been released by their mastersmen, women, and childrenwhite men who were members of the Church of England79. Who founded Georgia? James Oglethorpe80. What was the first permanent English settlement in North America? Jamestown81. Most of our laws, customs, practices, and institutions were influenced primarily by which country?Great Britain82. What describes the structure or plan of the government and the rights of the American people?The Constitution83. What is the power to interpret laws? Judicial power84. What is a form of government in which the leader has absolute power and authority? Dictatorship85. Which branch is responsible for enforcing the law? Executive branch86. What is the introduction to the United States Constitution? The Preamble87. What is a form of government in which the supreme authority rests with the people? Democracy88. What is the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies? Government89. Which branch of government is the Supreme Court part of? Judicial90. Which branch of government is responsible for making the law? Legislative